The Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology, following a request submitted by the partners of the sector, has decided to extend the authorisation of São Miguel fishers to catch 400 kilos of horse mackerel per day until December 31.
On Terceira Island, fishing vessels will continue to catch 200 kilos of horse mackerel per day until the end of the year.
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology said this measure takes into account "the stability in abundance of this fish species, emphasising that "the average price for this species has remained constant due to its demand in the local market."
According to Gui Menezes, the "measure is very important to boost fishers' income."
During this year, fishers caught 434 tonnes of horse mackerel were in the Region, which corresponded to 916 thousand Euros in the first sale.
The ordinance maintaining the authorisation to catch higher quantities of horse mackerel on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira was published today in the Official Gazette. It takes effect Wednesday, November 1.
In July, the Regional Secretariat published an ordinance that authorised fishing vessels to catch 400 kilos of horse mackerel per day between April 1 and September 30 due to the greater abundance of this species since May and an increase in demand in some periods of the year. For that reason, the ordinance had already been extended until October 31.